May is nearly out and so is May

[burning dog]

. Sadly: the country has been crying out for an Opposition to this government.

That"s sadly a mirrior image of The country has been crying out for government! May was supposed to to address huge issues like social care

[french frank]

May was supposed to to address huge issues like social care

If that had ever been on the cards, it was quickly junked as soon as it became obvious that the key task for 'the government' was keeping their party together. Which they achieved with their habitual aplomb.

[burning dog]

If that had ever been on the cards, it was quickly junked as soon as it became obvious that the key task for 'the government' was keeping their party together. Which they achieved with their habitual aplomb.

Quite ! Keeping their party together instead of being a Government

[Richard Barrett]

Anyway: I see that the total vote for explicitly Remain-supporting parties was 38%, that for the hard Brexiters 36.8% and that for the two (usually) main parties 23.4%. Hardly something that's likely to translate into a decisive result in a hypothetical second referendum, given that Labour and Tory votes would be split. But if promising one at a hypothetical general election is going to deliver a government that will also address the kinds of issues that burning dog has mentioned, then I'm for it. And after yesterday that seems more likely than it did before.

[Stanfordian]

Well, as a non-Labour Remainer, I read their Election Communication with incredulity. Why were they saying elect Labour MEPs and we'll put '10,000 bobbies back on the beat', build more affordable housing, rebuild the UK economy, invest in elderly care … oh, and bring our country together. I would support all of those things but the leaflet came over as a pitch for Corbyn's hoped-for General Election, didn't mention Brexit other than listing the Labour candidates on the back page which took up the largest section, the second largest being a big photo of Jeremy Corbyn on the front. The whole thing seemed completely off-target, and I guess I wasn't the only person who thought that. Sadly: the country has been crying out for an Opposition to this government.

I believe Labour have been very poor opposition party and are unelectable under Jeremy Corbyn. But things could quickly change with a more acceptable leader at the helm; such as say Yvette Cooper and with Ed Balls at her side, what a combo!

[french frank]

Hardly something that's likely to translate into a decisive result in a hypothetical second referendum, given that Labour and Tory votes would be split.

I'm certainly not confident that it would 'achieve' anything, but if it had carefully chosen options, voted for on a preferential basis, it would be 'decisive' (what the decision would be, I haven't a clue).

But if promising one at a hypothetical general election is going to deliver a government that will also address the kinds of issues that burning dog has mentioned, then I'm for it. And after yesterday that seems more likely than it did before.

Yes, Mr Corbyn's view this morning. "Mr Corbyn blamed the results on "Tory failure" to deliver Brexit, turning the EU elections into a "proxy second referendum" where single-issue parties such as the Brexit Party would thrive."

So let's forget about the EU, Brexit and p(r)oxy second referendums and have a General Election instead, while the Tories are split and back on their heels. In the present circumstances, I find that prospect less appealing than you do!

[burning dog]

A nightmare second referendum could be 51% remain 49% leave

[burning dog]

Yvette Cooper or someone like her would have to take on most of the anti austerity agenda that has resurfaced under Corbyn. Blairism won't win anymore people are sick of "Camerblairism" I think she is too much associated with this phliosophy.

[Conchis]

A nightmare second referendum could be 51% remain 49% leave

What’s the problem with that? It makes it two out of three!

[Conchis]

Yvette Cooper or someone like her would have to take on most of the anti austerity agenda that has resurfaced under Corbyn. Blairism won't win anymore people are sick of "Camerblairism" I think she is too much associated with this phliosophy.

Agreed. She’s been a very impressive backbencher in this parliament and one of the few adults in the room. But a new leader will need the common touch and I don’t think YC has it.

British politics badly needs a Henri of Navarre figure atm (yes, and remember what happens to him....)

[burning dog]

What’s the problem with that? It makes it two out of three!

That's the nightmare!

[Richard Barrett]

Yes, Mr Corbyn's view this morning. "Mr Corbyn blamed the results on "Tory failure" to deliver Brexit, turning the EU elections into a "proxy second referendum" where single-issue parties such as the Brexit Party would thrive."

So let's forget about the EU, Brexit and p(r)oxy second referendums and have a General Election instead, while the Tories are split and back on their heels. In the present circumstances, I find that prospect less appealing than you do!

Oh I don't think anyone's forgetting about the EU, Brexit and the rest of it. There was an attempt to draw the attention of the electorate onto other issues, for reasons which I at least regard as quite legitimate, and with which for what it's worth I agreed, and which was unsuccessful. Also, nobody seriously thinks that the result would be duplicated in a general election any more than the last EU election was. In any general election in the near future, Labour is going to have to campaign with a less nuanced line on Brexit, that much is clear, and I imagine that would take the form of a referendum promise rather than a revocation*, and this is obviously something the Tories aren't going to consider.

*edit - it is perhaps worth mentioning that signatories to the Revoke petition outnumbered votes for the Faragists.

[ahinton]

it is perhaps worth mentioning that signatories to the Revoke petition outnumbered votes for the Faragists.

That's a very pertinent point which I've not heard or seen mentioned elsewhere - and that tally of signatories (the only worthwhile Tories, peut-être!) continues to increase steadily even though the momentum has slowed a while back; almost 85,000 have signed since it passed the 6m mark.

[Dave2002]

Would he be a 'sleeper' candidate, perhaps? Or might he rail at his opponents?

Could he be electrifying or would he run into the buffers? Would he express his views clearly and gain traction, or merely chug along?

[light relief on a day of yet more speculative comments and dubious ‘analysis’ no doubt]

[DracoM]

............Or Genghis Khan, maybe, which is how I suspect that Farage sees himself and the Brexit party.